Crosslands to Cowan
Download & Print Map and Notes7 hrs 30 mins
1103 m
Hard track
Crosslands
(0km) Crosslands Carpark → Northern end of Crosslands carpark
250 m
4 mins
1m
0m
Very easy
(0.25km) Northern end of Crosslands Carpark → Crosslands North
260 m
4 mins
1m
-2m
Very easy
Crosslands North Picnic area
(0.51km) Crosslands North → Estuaries viewing platform int.
220 m
4 mins
7m
-5m
Very easy
Berowra Creek (Estuarie) Lookout
(0.73km) Estuaries viewing platform → Calna Creek Bridge intersection
780 m
20 mins
54m
-57m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the ridge line, this walk follows the GNW arrow east downhill, initially keeping the ‘Stop! Look! Listen! and Smell!’ information sign[57] on your right. The track bends left and follows the timber steps[58] as the track winds steeply down the side of the hill. Near the bottom of the hill, the track passes a ‘Rock n Roll’ information sign[59] then comes to a long, metal footbridge[60]. The walk crosses the bridge over Calna Creek and comes to a signposted intersection, with a ‘Fragile Marsh’ information sign[61]
(1.51km) Calna Creek Bridge intersection → Sams Creek Ridge Clearing
1.1 km
27 mins
67m
-58m
Moderate track
(2.66km) Sams Creek ridge clearing → Sams Creek Crossing
500 m
11 mins
20m
-23m
Moderate track
(3.16km) Sams Creek Crossing → Int of Great North Walk and Berowra Link tracks
670 m
30 mins
181m
-44m
Hard track
(3.83km) Int of Great North Walk and Berowra Link tracks → Int of Naa Badu Lookout
260 m
7 mins
19m
-22m
Easy track
Naa Badu Lookout
(4.09km) Int of Naa Badu Lookout → Int of Great North Walk and Berkeley Close service trail
540 m
11 mins
16m
-26m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the wide trail gently downhill as it bends right[94], keeping the valley to your left. After about 140m, the trail narrows a bit, leading down a few short but steeper sections[95] to an intersection (with some steps[96] on your left), where a ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[97] points back up along the trail.
(4.63km) Int of Great North Walk and Berkeley Close service trail → Int of Great North Walk and Currawong Road track
570 m
18 mins
78m
-31m
Hard track
(5.2km) Int of Great North Walk and Currawong Road track → Berowra Waters trackhead
1.6 km
42 mins
62m
-231m
Hard track
Continue straight: From Washtub Gully[136], this walk crosses the creek[137] and follows the track, keeping Berowra Creek not far to your left[138]. After about 50m, the track passes an old partially sunken boat[139], then about 100m further on, the track passes a view point that is an obviously popular (but not recommended) jumping spot[140]. The track then soon leads up some steps and over a rise[141] behind the ‘Berowra Waters Garden House’ restaurant[142], then heads down the steps[143] to come to the signposted ‘Berowra Waters Trackhead’[144][145] on ‘Berowra Waters Rd’[146].
Berowra Waters Garden House
(6.83km) Berowra Waters track head → End of Kirkpatrick Way
390 m
8 mins
10m
-15m
Very easy
(7.22km) End of Kirkpatrick Way → Berowra Waters view seat
470 m
9 mins
12m
-8m
Moderate track
(7.7km) Berowra Waters view seat → Deep Bay Creek crossing
730 m
26 mins
119m
-79m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the view at the top of the ridge, this walk follows GNW arrow post[174] east, directly away from the Berowra Water views and over the small rise. The track soon leads down off a rock[175], where the track bends right and starts to lead fairly gently downhill[176]. The track then leads down a few short, steep, rocky sections[177] before crossing a lovely creek[178], flowing over the sandstone rock platform[179][180]. This creek may be slippery and can be particularly risky to cross after rain.
(8.43km) Deep Bay Creek crossing → Int of ridge top campsite and GNW
1.1 km
36 mins
189m
-29m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow along the sandy management trail[197], heading south. The trail immediately bends left[198] and passes a track[199] (on your right, that runs generally parallel to this trail). This trail leads down through the scribbly gum and heath forest[200], where the trail widens (after about 70m) and then comes to an intersection[201] beside the large ridge top campsite[202][203]. There is a ‘Berowra Waters’ sign[204] here, pointing back along the trail.
Ridge Top Campground
(9.49km) Int of ridge top campsite and Great North Walk → Joe Crafts Creek crossing
1.7 km
37 mins
24m
-196m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection[210], this walk follows the GNW arrow post[211] east along the track as it leads very gently downhill along the top of the ridge. Over the next 300m, the track passes a rock platform[212] and comes to a second rock platform with more views[213] and a ‘Great North Walk’ log book box[214] on a post. After leaving your note (and reading through a few entries), this walk continues down along the top of the ridge for another 200m to step down off another rock platform[215] (ignoring the track to your left). Here the walk starts to head downhill for the next 1km – initially the track leads down a series of short rocky steep sections[216][217], and passes some interesting large rock boulders[218][219] along the way. As the track moves further into the valley, it becomes consistently steeper[220] until leading down leading into the ferns and beside Joe Crafts Creek[221][222].
(11.14km) Joe Crafts Creek crossing → Valley viewing area
660 m
26 mins
158m
-5m
Hard track
(11.8km) Valley viewing area → Int of GNW and Glendale Road
880 m
16 mins
25m
-14m
Moderate track
(12.67km) Int of GNW and Glendale Road → Int of GNW and Pacific Highway service trail
830 m
19 mins
33m
-59m
Moderate track
(13.51km) Int of GNW and Pacific Highway service trail → Cowan trackhead
500 m
11 mins
27m
-13m
Moderate track
Maps for the Crosslands to Cowan walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Hornsby | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91304S HORNSBY | NSW-91304S |
Cowan | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91304N COWAN | NSW-91304N |
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map | 1:40 000 Map Series | CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map | CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map |
Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the Crosslands to Cowan bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Crosslands to Cowan
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 14 km | ||
Time | 7 hrs 30 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
Experience Required | Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) | ||
Weather | Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
6km of this walk is very steep and another 4km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 2.8km has short steep hills and the remaining 1.3km is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
8km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 3.1km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 1.5km follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 1.1km follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 13km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.4km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
10km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience and another 3.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience. The remaining (670m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
weather
13km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation) and another 660m is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety. The remaining (390m) is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 5km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Crosslands to Cowan walk starts at the Crosslands Carpark (gps: -33.628707, 151.10905)Your main transport option to Crosslands Carpark is by;
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
The Crosslands to Cowan ends at the Cowan trackhead (gps: -33.593647, 151.17134)
Your transport options to Cowan trackhead are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/ctc
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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